BirdAnalyst
BBS Route · Illinois · BCR 22

Holcomb Bird Survey Route

A standard 50-stop Breeding Bird Survey route. 94 species recorded across 50 survey years, still active.

94Species RecordedSpecies recordedDistinct species detected on standard-protocol BBS runs here across all years on record — a measure of survey breadth, not a complete checklist.Full methodology →
50Years SurveyedYears surveyedNumber of years with at least one standard-protocol run in this geography. A longer record makes the trend more reliable.Full methodology →
1971–2024Span
3Observers

Bird Species Found on Illinois Holcomb

Top 40 of 94 species by most recent count. Each links to its species trend.

Species recorded on the Holcomb route.
Recent countThe raw number of individuals recorded on this route in its most recent survey year. A single-route tally, not a trend.Full methodology →TrendPercent change in the route-weighted abundance index between a smoothed baseline window and the most recent one. It tracks direction, not absolute population.Full methodology →Baseline yearThe first year of the smoothed window the trend is measured from. An earlier baseline means a longer record stands behind the number.Full methodology →History
Cliff SwallowHirundinidae712024+986%2003
Red-winged BlackbirdIcteridae532024-76%1973
American RobinTurdidae422024-29%1973
American CrowCorvidae212024-45%1973
Common GrackleIcteridae202024-85%1973
House SparrowPasseridae192024-96%1973
Northern CardinalCardinalidae182024+217%1973
European StarlingSturnidae172024-94%1973
American GoldfinchFringillidae172024-17%1973
Barn SwallowHirundinidae172024+92%1973
KilldeerCharadriidae162024-4%1978
Song SparrowPasserellidae142024-80%1973
Northern House WrenTroglodytidae142024+42%1973
Rock PigeonColumbidae132024-77%1973
Mourning DoveColumbidae132024-15%1973
Brown-headed CowbirdIcteridae122024-9%1973
Horned LarkAlaudidae112024-63%1973
Northern Rough-winged SwallowHirundinidae112022+163%1979
Eastern MeadowlarkIcteridae92024-85%1973
Chipping SparrowPasserellidae82024+56%1973
Eurasian Collared-DoveColumbidae82024+333%2017
Chimney SwiftApodidae72024-53%1973
Indigo BuntingCardinalidae72024-61%1973
DickcisselCardinalidae72024-91%1973
Tree SwallowHirundinidae72023+333%1993
Canada GooseAnatidae62023-81%1989
Common YellowthroatParulidae52024-62%1973
Forster's TernLaridae51978n/an/a
Eastern Screech-OwlStrigidae51996n/an/a
Baltimore OrioleIcteridae42024-30%1980
OvenbirdParulidae41978n/an/a
Turkey VultureCathartidae42024+560%1993
Eastern Wood-PeweeTyrannidae32024+50%1973
Rose-breasted GrosbeakCardinalidae32024+0%1979
Purple MartinHirundinidae32023-59%1973
Gray CatbirdMimidae32024-27%1973
Black-billed CuckooCuculidae32008+0%1977
Eastern KingbirdTyrannidae32024-13%1977
Vesper SparrowPasserellidae32024-85%1977
Cedar WaxwingBombycillidae32024-54%1982

Source: USGS North American Breeding Bird Survey, retrieved 2026-05-22. A route is a sample, not a census.